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Gaza women stage anti-Hamas demo Hamas bans Gaza outdoor prayers
(about 2 hours later)
About a hundred Palestinian women have defied a ban by Hamas and staged a peaceful demonstration against the Islamist group in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has banned outdoor prayer gatherings in the Gaza Strip, just days after supporters of the rival Fatah group used them to mount mass protests.
The protest was organised by the rival Fatah movement, from which Hamas seized control of the territory in June. About 20 people were injured on Friday when Hamas security forces broke up the biggest show of opposition to the group since it took control of Gaza in June.
Opposition to Hamas in Gaza has become increasingly vocal in recent days with several protests having been organised to highlight civil liberty violations. The thousands of protesters accused the Islamists of violating civil liberties and using mosques to spread propaganda.
Later, Hamas banned open-air prayers organised by Fatah supporters. Earlier, dozens of women defied a ban and staged a peaceful protest in Gaza.
The government has decided to ban any gathering under the pretext of performing Friday prayers Hamas statement
The move came after thousands attended outdoor prayer gatherings throughout Gaza on Friday which later turned into mass protests.
Some 20 people were injured when the Hamas Executive Force, which is tasked with maintaining security in the territory, broke up the crowds.
"They went beyond the aim of prayers and they were used for the purpose of chaos, strife, rioting, practicing terrorism," Hamas said in a statement announcing the ban.
Factional tensions
The protest by dozens of women in Gaza City on Tuesday was, however, allowed to pass off peacefully.
The Fatah supporters called for an end to the arbitrary arrests and the alleged beatings of their family members by Hamas.The Fatah supporters called for an end to the arbitrary arrests and the alleged beatings of their family members by Hamas.
The Islamist group has insisted it conducts its arrests for reasons of law and order.The Islamist group has insisted it conducts its arrests for reasons of law and order.
Over the last two and a half months, Gaza has been sealed by Israel as it and much of the international community looks to isolate Hamas. Factional tensions
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Ramallah says that isolation is contributing to factional tensions which are, once again, rising in the territory. A spokesman for the Hamas government in Gaza, said it had examined Friday's "troubles" and decided to ban "all gatherings organised under the guise of Friday prayers".
The government will take all necessary measures to support security and public order in Gaza Hamas statement
"They went beyond the aim of prayers and were used for the purpose of chaos, strife, rioting, and practicing terrorism," Tahir al-Nunu said in a statement.
"The government will take all necessary measures to support security and public order in Gaza."
Opposition to Hamas has become increasingly vocal over the last two-and-a-half months, during which Gaza has been sealed off by Israel as it and much of the international community looks to isolate the Islamist group.
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Ramallah says that isolation is contributing to factional tensions which are rising in the territory once again.